BOSTON (KNX) — Alzheimer's has baffled scientists and doctors for years. They've learned what causes the disease but not how to cure it or prevent it from happening...until now?
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston are set to begin the first human trial of a nasal vaccine aimed at preventing and slowing the debilitating disease. It's a small trial that could yield big results.
Doctor Howard Weiner is co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at the hospital. He's also the lead researcher of the trial.
“We've been working on this for over 20 years,” he said in an interview with KNX In Depth. “It’s a new approach. Something that could not only treat people who have the disease but could ultimately prevent it.”
Weiner said the vaccine is different from current medicines being used to treat Alzheimer’s because it works by stimulating the body’s immune system.
“The nasal vaccine stimulates the immune system in the blood — it doesn’t go into the brain,” he said.
“It stimulates the immune system and then cells that are in the bloodstream, [those] cells go into the brain and clear out the amyloid and disinfect the other diseased areas of the brain.”
Sixteen patients between the ages of 60 and 85 will participate in the Phase 1 clinical trial, all with early forms of the disease that are presenting symptoms.
They will receive two doses of the vaccine one week apart, the hospital shared in a statement.
“The phase I trial’s primary objective will be to determine the safety and tolerability of the nasal vaccine,” the hospital said.
“The research team will also measure the effect of nasal Protollin on participants’ immune response, including its effects on white blood cells, by examining cell surface markers, gene profiles, and functional assays.”
If all goes well, a larger trial would be needed to determine if the vaccine is effective and what the dosage should be.
Follow KNX 1070 Newsradio
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Related
